Alabama-based rock band One Like Son wanted to challenge themselves when they returned to the “studio” to record their third album after a 10-year music hiatus. So on Jan. 1, 2010, band frontman Stephen Poff vowed to spend the year recording a new set of songs solely with iPhone track apps.

“I feel this is one of our best sounding recordings,” Poff said. In the past, Poff recorded two albums the traditional way – in a studio using condenser microphones, hard disc systems, amps, cables, patchbays and other accessories.

According to Poff, recording tracks using only applications was much more difficult than he anticipated. His previous iPhone-recording experience only involved experimenting on basic four-track applications that allows users to record, then overlay four tracks of music to play together.

The 11-track album was finished right before the new year on Dec. 31, 2011. Read More

Happy Born Day Aaliyah (1979-2001)

By GWOP

January 16, 2012

Aaliyah

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Aaliyah Dana Haughton better known as stage name Aaliyah was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. Today would have marked her 33rd Birthday. Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash on August 26, 2001 after shooting a music video in the Bahamas. Aaliyah was raised in Detroit, MI and was at the peak of her career before the tragic plane crash. She was very accomplished at the tender age of 22 in music and films. Aaliyah created the foundation for today’s female artists like Ciara. She would’ve been bigger than Beyonce if she were still alive today thru many peoples eyes. Rest in Paradise! Happy Born Day Baby Girl!

LL Cool J launches BoomDizzle w/ Dolby at CES 2012

By GWOP

January 13, 2012

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Hip Hop Legend/Pioneer LL Cool J introduces the Boomdizzle Virtual Recording Studio at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

(Las Vegas)

Grammy Award winning artist LL Cool J recently announced the launch of the first phase of the Boomdizzle’s Virtual Recording Studio. Boomdizzle was co-founded by LL Cool J in 2008 as an online community designed for aspiring artists of all kinds to record, share and remix original music and video content. Read More

Top Selling Digital Artists of All-Time

By GWOP

January 7, 2012

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According to Nielsen SoundScan, Rhianna has moved an incredible 47.5 million digital sales since she hit the scene back in 2005.

Black Eyed Peas, who claim the top digital selling song of all time moving 7.68 million downloads of ”I Got A Feeling”, came in second on the list with 42.4 million total downloads.

The complete Top 10 looks like this:

1. Rihanna (47,571,000)

2. Black Eyed Peas (42,405,000)

3. Eminem (42,290,000)

4. Lady Gaga (42,078,000)

5. Taylor Swift (41,821,000)

6. Katy Perry (37,620,00)

7. Lil Wayne (36,788,000)

8. Beyonce (30,439,000)

9. Kanye West (30,242,000)

10. Britney Spears (28,665,000)

Kanye West’s New Brand: DONDA a design company

By GWOP

January 5, 2012

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We all Love our Momma’s, rap artist and designer Kanye West is ensuring his mother’s name DONDA lives forever with his new brand.

Kanye West announced his plans to start a new brand: DONDA (the name of Kanye’s late mother R.I.P.). Checkout the details below and how you can get involved. Read More

Kanye & Jay-Z Get Paid $6 million for Sweet 16 Birthday Party.

By GWOP

December 30, 2011

Jay Z, Kanye West

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Having already grossed $48 million on their “Watch The Throne” tour, Jay-Z and Kanye West recently added to their ~~GWOP~~ bank accounts with another significant payday for a private show in Dubai before Christmas.

NME reports The Throne earned $6 million dollars to perform at the Sweet 16 birthday party of multi billionaire Manchester Football Club owner, Sheikh Mansour’s niece. Hov and Yeezy received $2.9 million each, pocket change for Mansour, whose wealthy family rules oil-rich Abu Dhabi. Read More

GWOP Report: Rhianna Tour Scores $90 Million this year

By GWOP

December 29, 2011

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Rhianna’s “Loud” tour grossed an incredible $90 million dollars, placing it at No. 9 among all tours for the year.

Only one rap/hip hop tour managed to crack the top 25. Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” tour grossed $48.3 million to earn the No. 23 spot. Read More

Feds Impersonate Hip Hop label seize $7.2 million in drugs, Arrest 70 In Sting Operation

By GWOP

December 20, 2011

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Source: Washington Post

A year long investigation by Washington, D.C. police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has resulted in the seizure of 161 weapons and $7.2 million in drugs. The crazy thing is that they pulled this off by posing as a fictional rap label.

The team operated out of the “Manic Enterprises” studio, which was run by fictional rapper “Richie Valdez” (D.C. Police Sgt. Dale Sutherland) and located inside of a Northeast DC rowhouse. The “studio” opened in November of 2010, and featured normal studio equipment, as well as some addition technology-hidden audio and video gear.

According to authorities, many of the 70 suspects admitted they would kill police or innocent people if they deemed it necessary. Naturally, that didn’t sit well with the undercovers. Also, if you’re wondering what that $7 million in drugs consisted of, it included 80 pounds of meth, 21 pounds of coke, 1.25 gallons of PCP and 24 pounds of marijuana, heroin and ecstasy.

In addition to recovering the weapons-which included a rocket launcher-and drugs, a trip to Atlanta during the investigation yielded a connection to the Mexican Drug Cartel “La Familia,” who allegedly introduced the feds to a Georgia gun supplier.

Forbes Top Earning Women in Music 2011

By GWOP

December 15, 2011

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“Forbes” 2011 list of The Top-Earning Women in Music
1. Lady Gaga, 90-million-dollars
2. Taylor Swift, 45-million-dollars
3. Katy Perry, 44-million-dollars
4. Beyonce Knowles, 35-million-dollars
5. Rihanna, 29-million-dollars
6. Pink, 22-million-dollars
7. Carrie Underwood, 20-million-dollars
8. Celine Dion, 19-million-dollars
9. Adele, 18-million-dollars
10. TIE – Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, ten-million-dollars

GWOP Report: Lil Wayne’s Tour Grossed $46 million Domestically

By GWOP

December 14, 2011

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Lil Wayne has spent most of the year touring around the world, entertaining fans at sold out shows, and it seems that it has paid off in a monumental way. It was just announced that Wayne’s “I Am Still Music” tour has grossed $46 million in the U.S.
Wayne performed in 78 venues across the globe, selling 32,000 tickets in Chicago, Illinois, 27,000 tickets in Buffalo, New York and 28,000 tickets in both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas.
Wayne’s manager Cortez Bryant said the next step was “focusing on the expansion of his global success.”
Source: hiphopdx.com

Jay-Z Breaks Billboard Record

By GWOP

December 8, 2011

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spotted: FreesWorld

Kanye West and Jay Z‘s Watch the Throne album has produced its first top 10 single with “N***a in Paris.”

A couple of weeks ago the song reached #9 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart. And this week, “Paris” sits at #8 on the Hot 100 chart after climbing up from #15.

The single’s chart position now gives Jay Z 18 Top 10 singles, which is the most earned by a rapper. Jay passes Lil’ Wayne and Ludacris, who both have 17 of their own. In case you’re wondering, Kanye has 14 chart topping singles so far.

In related news, Jay Z announced today that he will be performing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City on February 6 and 7. On the honor, he said:

“It’s every artists dream to play a venue as legendary as Carnegie Hall. The fact that I can use the arts and my talent to benefit the education of the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and great thinkers makes for a legendary night. I’m proud to be a part of the continuing work of United Way of New York City and expanding the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.”